Hydrant breaker flange



2 Sheeizs-$heet Filed May 20, 1964 INVENTORS On EN uw 0 R B .E

H R A c RS 0 BY g July 1967 F. H. MUELLER ETAL 3,331,397

HYDRANT BREAKER FLANGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1964 $6 mml/ yd FRANK H. MUELLER OSCAR E. BROWN MM) 99W? F- MW 7 A'ITORNE'YS United States Patent 3,331,397 HYDRANT BREAKER ELAN GE Frank H. Mueller, Decatur, Ill., and Oscar E. Brown, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignors to Mueller C0,, Decatur, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 20, 1964, Ser. No. 368,808 4 Claims. (Ci. 13777) This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 848,319, filed Oct. 23, 1959, and since abandoned.

The present invention relates to a fire hydrant, and more particularly to an improved frangible coupling between the upper and lower barrel sections of a plural part fire hydrant.

It is known to construct fire hydrants so that in the event they are struck, as by an automobile or the like, damage will be confined to certain definite weakened parts which may be easily and quickly replaced and the hydrant put back into operation at minimum expense and without any major damage thereto. Hydrants of this type have upper and lower barrel sections that are connected together by frangible coupling means. The lower barrel section normally is 'buried in the ground with its upper end, and the coupling means, disposed at a location only slightly above the surface of the ground.

In one form of known coupling the abutting ends of the sections are provided with peripheral flanges, the flange on the lower barrel section being of somewhat smaller diameter than that on the upper section. The two sections are secured together by a coupling ring having its inner portion engaged beneath the smaller diameter flange on the lower barrel section. The ring projects radially outwardly of such flange and is secured to the flange on the upper barrel section by an annularly arranged series of bolts. A packing gasket usually is interposed between the fiat abutting ends of the barrel sections.

The ring is weakened radially inwardly of the annularly arranged series of coupling bolts, as by the provision of a circumferential groove in its upper or lower surface. Consequently, when the upper barrel section is struck a lateral blow, as by an automobile or the like, the coupling ring is supposed to fracture and allow the upper barrel section to fall over without appreciable damage to either section.

Fire hydrants of this type usually have a vertically reciprocating valve stem extending downwardly through the barrel. The stem is made in two parts joined together by a frangible, or readily-separable, coupling at about the level of the joint between the two barrel sections. This releasable stem coupling permits the upper barrel section to be knocked over without appreciably damaging the valve stem, because the stem coupling normally will separate and disconnect the two stem parts.

While fire hydrants constructed as aforesaid have been in actual use for many years, they possess certain disadvantages. Substantially all such hydrants have frangible coupling constructions which, when the upper section is impacted, permits substantial later-a1 translational movement or displacement between the two sections before the upper section pivots sufiiciently to shear the coupling ring. When such a hydrant is knocked over, sometimes either or both of the valve stem parts are bent or otherwise damaged so as to require replacement. Moreover, in some instances the direction, location and force of a blow are such that the frangible coupling does not break readily and so is ineffective to prevent damage to either or both of the hydrant barrel sections. In this connect-ion, known frangible coupling rings are designed to be sheared off by an upward force exerted thereon through the coupling bolts. Consequently, unless the blow to the hydrant develops component forces which will immediately result in high upward shearing forces the coupling ring will not shear effectively or quickly enough to prevent damage to the barrel sections. This problem of damage by lateral movement of the upper section has increased in recent years because of the lower road clearance of current automobiles. Obviously the tendency of the upper section to move laterally is increased when the point of impact is lower.

The instant invention is designed to overcome the aforedescribed disadvantages and to provide a construction wherein a lateral blow on an upper barrel section of a hydrant immediately, and without any appreciable lateral displacement of the upper section, develops high component forces effective to cause the bolts at at least one side of the coupling ring to raise forcefully and thus immediately shear the coupling ring. This combination of effects minimizes the possibility of bending or otherwise damaging the two releasably coupled parts of the hydrant valve stem.

According to the invention a frangible coupling arrangement is provided which (1) effectively and immediately translates the forces developed by lateral impact on the upper barrel section to a straight upward pull on one side thereof to readily break the frangible connection and (2) eliminates horizontal sliding of the upper section prior to breakage of the connection. The preferred construction for accomplishing these results and thereby overcoming the disadvantages of former arrangements provides a joint between the upper and lower hydrant sections wherein the complementary sections engage each other along frustoconical surfaces. In such an arrangement if there is any tendency of the upper section to slide laterally, the interfitting surfaces effect a wedging action that tends to separate the two sections longitudinally. Consequently, a lateral impact on the upper section, which would naturally move it laterally relative to the lower section, causes the aforementioned wedging action to raise up the upper section and thus break the stem couplings in tension before there is any undue lateral dis placement between the two sections. It is apparent that a tension break of the stem coupling minimizes any bending of the stem.

A similar desirable result may be obtained by a closely fitting tongue and groove joint which employs a right angle shoulder to effect a pivotal movement of the upper section while preventing lateral displacement of the same.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a plural-section fire hydrant having a frangible coupling between upper and lower sections, said coupling having engaging surfaces which are adapted to immediately translate a lateral impact force on the upper section into upward movement of the latter while preventing any appreciable lateral displacement of the same.

It is another object to provide a frangible coupling of the type just referred to in which the upper and lower hydrant sections engage each other along complementary frusto-conical surfaces so that, upon a lateral impact, the interfitting surfaces effect a camming action which immediately raises the upper section relative to the lower section.

These and further objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in vertical section, of a fire hydrant incorporating the preferred construct-ion of the. present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section of a fire hydrant incorporating another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding generally to FIG- 3 URE 1, but showing the hydrant parts in the positions assumed when subjected to a fracturing blow; and

FIGURE 4 is a view corresponding generally to FIG- URE 2, but showing the hydrant parts in the positions assumed when subjected to a fracturing blow.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIG- URE 1, there is shown a fire hydrant comprising an upper barrel section 111 and a lower barrel section 12 disposed with their mating ends in an end-to-end relation and having the usual top portion 14. The upper barrel section 16 is provided with a peripheral flange 16 on its lower or mating end, which cooperates with a peripheral flange 18 on the upper or mating end of lower barrel section 12, the latter normally being buried almost entirely in the earth so that only its upper end is above the ground (as shown in FIGURE 1). An upright valve stem 20 comprising an upper section 22 and a lower section 24, is disposed within the barrel sections 10 and 12 and is connected to the usual operating head 25 at its upper end, and to the main value (not shown) at its lower end. Valve stem sections 22 and 24 are connected together in a customary manner by a frangible coupling sleeve 26, so that in the event the hydrant sections 10 and 12 are separated, due to a severe lateral blow to the former the valve stem 20 will separate at the frangible coupling 22. The coupling 22 should be broken as completely as possible by tension so as to avoid damage to the valve stem 20, to its operating mechanism, or to the main valve.

The mating or lower end of upper barrel section 12 is provided with an inner circumferential recess 28 adapted to receive the upper end portion 30 of the mating end of lower barrel section 12. The outer wall 32 of the recess 28 is upwardly and inwardly inclined in a frusto-conical or conoidal configuration while the bottom wall 34 of the recess is flat. The outer edge of the end portion 34? of the lower barrel section 12 is bevelled, as at 36, to provide a surface complementary to the surf-ace 32 on the upper barrel section 10. The end portion 30 also has a flat annular end face 38. It will be seen that the end portion 30, upon assembly, fits entirely within the recess 28 so that the inclined outer surface 36 is adj acent and parallel to the side wall 32 of the recess 28, and the end face 38 is parallel to the bottom 34 of the recess 23. The usual sealing gasket 40 is interposed between the surfaces 34 and 38 to prevent the leakage of water during operation of the hydrant.

The barrel sections 10 and 12 are secured together by means of a frangible sectional coupling ring 42 having a weakened portion or annular groove 44 disposed in its undersurface. The ring 42 fits against the shoulder on the lower section 12 defined by the under-surface of the flange 18, and the sections 10 and 12 are secured together by bolts 48 extending through registering apertures 46 and 50 in the upper barrel section flange 16 and in the ring 42, respectively, and retained in place by nuts 49.

As the opposed surfaces 32 and 36 are either conoidal or frusto-conical, they cooperate to define an infinite number of circumferentially arranged wedging surfaces for upper barrel section 10 relative to lower barrel section 12. Therefore, should a hydrantincorporating this form of coupling be struck by a motor vehicle, or be otherwise subjected to a severe lateral blow on the upper barrel section 10, the latter will be caused to move laterally, but such movement, through the wedging cooperation of surfaces 32 and 36, immediately causes that side of the upper section which has been hit to move up. This action immediately causes the frangible coupling 42 to shear off at its weakened portion '44 (as shown in FIGURE 3), thus successfully eliminating any possible bending of the valve stem 20. The frangible coupling 26 which connects valve stem sections 22 and 24, is broken substantially complete- .ly in tension, due to the upward movement of barrel section 10 relative to barrel section 12, thus eliminating the possibility of damage to the operating mechanism of the valve stem or the main valve. In this connection it will be noted that the major outer diameter of the end portion 31) of the lower barrel section 12 is considerably less than the major inner diameter of the recess 28 so that the two barrel sections may move laterally without interference with the wedging action therebetween and without damage to either part. Obviously, these relations may be changed so long as relative lateral movement can take place without damage or interference with the wedging action.

In another embodiment of the invention (illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4) the upper end portion '30 of lower barrel section 12 has the usual peripheral flange 18, but in this instance is provided With an inner circumferential recess 52 in its mating end. The upper barrel section 16 is provide-d with the usual peripheral flange 16 and an annular end portion 54 which projects below the peripheral flange the lower section upon assembly of the hydrant sections. The side wall 56 of circumferential recess 52 and the opposed outer side 53 of the annular end portion 54 are substantially vertical and lie adjacent and parallel to each other upon assembly.

In assembly a hydrant using this embodiment of the invention has the usual annular sealing gasket 40 placed between the bottom 61} of the recess 52, and the flat end face 62 of the annular end portion 54. The barrel sections 10 and 12 are secured together by means of a frangible sectional coupling ring 64 which has a weakened portion or annular groove 66 in its lower surface. The ring 64 has an inner circumferential recess 68 in its upper surface which is adapted to encompass peripheral flange 18 on the lower barrel section 12 so that the upper face 70 of the ring 64 abuts the lower face 72 of .the peripheral flange 16 on upper barrel section 10, while the bottom of the recess 68 fits beneath the undersurface of the flange 18 on the lower section 12. Peripheral flange 16 has the usual circumferentially spaced apertures 46 registering with circumferentially spaced apertures 50 in the ring 64, and both receiving bolts 48 so that barrel sections 10 and 12 may be firmly secured together.

As the outer side 58 ofv end portion 54 of the upper barrel section 10 and the wall 56 of the recess 52 in the lower barrel section 12 are substantially vertical and adjacent 7 each other when assembled, they define an infinite number of circumferentially arranged pivot or fulcrum points for the upper barrel section 10 relative to the lower barrel section 12. Therefore, should the upper barrel section of a hydrant incorporating this embodiment of the present invention be struck by a motor vehicle, or otherwise subjected to a severe lateral blow, the upper barrel section 10 will be caused to pivot about lower barrel section 12 at a pivot point disposed from the point of impact. The pivotal motion of upper barrel section 10 relative to lower barrel section 12 causes the portion of upper barrel section 10 directly beneath the point of impact to rise substantially vertically relative to lower barrel section 12, thus effecting a shearing ofl of the ring 64, as shown in FIGURE 4.

As in the case of the preferred embodiment of this invention, illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, the frangible coupling 26 of the valve stem 20 breaks substantially completely in tension, thus eliminating any bending of the valve stem 20 to prevent its operating mechanism and main valve from incurring damage when the hydrant is subjected to a severe lateral blow.

The disposition of the annular groove or weakened portion within the undersurface of ring 64 eliminates the possibility of rain water or dirt accumulating within the weakened portion. In both the aforementioned embodiments of this invention the upper face of the coupling ring 42 (FIGURES l and 3) and 64 (FIGURES 2 and 4) abuts the under face of the peripheral flange 16 of upper barrel section 10. In such construction, the connecting bolts 48 are completely enclosed and are protected from the corrosive effects of the Weather and, therefore, the.

16 and is adapted to fit within the recess 52 in bolts 43 are not likely to become frozen or rusted in place, rendering difiicult the restoration of the hydrant to its operative condition.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by the invention a frangible coupling between upper and lower hydrant sections which accentuates upward movement of the upper section upon lateral impact while minimizing lateral movement of the same so that valve stem sections within the hydrant sections are separated substantially completely by tension. While specific structures have been described and illustrated in the foregoing specification modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art and it is therefore not intended that the details thereof be limiting except as they appear in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety coupling for fire hydrants, comprising: upper and lower hydrant barrel sections having mating ends rovided with peripheral flanges; a frangible sectional annulus engaged beneath the undersurface of said peripheral flange on said lower barrel section; and bolt means connecting said annulus to said flange on said upper section, said annulus being weakened in an annular region thereof radially inwardly of said bolt means so as to be frangible by upward movement of said upper barrel section relative to said lower section, one of said sections being provided with an inner circumferential recess in its said mating end, said recess having an upwardly and inwardly inclined side wall, and the other of said sections being provided with an annular end portion having an upwardly and inwardly sloping outer surface substantially complementary to and fitting snugly within said recess in said other section, said inclined side wall and said sloping surface defining wedging surfaces for said hydrant sections such that when said upper section receives a lateral blow, appreciable lateral displacement between said sections is prevented and high force components are generated by the interengagement of said section ends to effect a raising movement on the impacted side of said upper section relative to said lower section.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said inclined side wall and said sloping surface are conoidal.

3. A fire hydrant comprising: upper and lower hydrant barrel sections having mating ends, the lower end of said upper section being provided with an inner circumferential recess having an upwardly and inwardly inclined frusto-conical side wall, the upper end of said lower section being provided with an upwardly and inwardly inclined frusto-conical outer surface complementary to and adapted to fit within said recess; upper and lower valve stem sections within said barrel sections, said upper stem section be ng supported for movement with said upper barrel section upon upward movement of the latter and said lower stem section being restrained against upward movement; a frangible coupling joining said valve stem sections; peripheral flanges on said mating ends; a frangible sectional annulus engaged beneath the under-surface of said peripheral flange on said lower barrel section; bolt means conecting said annulus to said flange on said upper barrel section, said annulus being weakened in an anular region thereof radially inwardly of said bolt means so as to be frangible by upward movement of said upper barrel section relative to said lower barrel section, said frusto-conical wall and said frusto-conical surface defining wedging surfaces for said hydrant sections effective by camming action to cause immediate upward movement of a side of said upper section on lateral impact, breakage of said annulus and breakage of said frangible coupling by tension while preventing any appreciable lateral displacement of said upper section until after said frangible coupling has been broken.

4. A fire hydrant comprising: upper and lower barrel sections; upper and lower valve stem sections within said barrel sections, said upper stem section being supported for movement with said upper barrel section upon upward movement of the latter and said lower stem section being restrained against upward movement, said upper valve stem being supported by said upper barrel section; a frangible coupling joining said valve stem sections; and joint means between said barrel sections for immediately and effectively translating the forces developed by a lateral impact on said upper barrel section into an upward pull on said upper valve stem section to cause breakage of said frangible coupling by tension and for preventing any appreciable lateral displacement of said upper barrel section until after said frangible coupling has been broken, said joint means including an upwardly and inwardly inclined frusto-conical inner wall on the lower end of said upper barrel section and an upwardly and inwardly inclined frusto-conical outer surface on the upper end of said barrel section, said wall and said surface being in mating engagement to effect a camming action which causes immediate upward movement of a side of said upper barrel section on lateral impact, said joint means further including a peripheral flange on the mating ends of said barrel sections, a frangible sectional annulus engaged beneath the undersurface of the flange on said lower barrel section and bolt means connecting said annulus to the flange on said upper barrel section, said annulus being weakened in an annular region thereof radially inwardly of said bolt means so as to be frangible by upward movement of said upper barrel section relative to said lower barrel section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,017,600 10/1935 Lofton 13768 X 2,340,965 2/1944 Kiesel l3768 X FOREIGN PATENTS 606,008 11/1934 Germany.

WILLIAM F. ODEA Primary Examiner. R. GERARD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY COUPLING FOR FIRE HYDRANTS, COMPRISING: UPPER AND LOWER HYDRANT BARREL SECTIONS HAVING MATING ENDS PROVIDED WITH PERIPHERAL FLANGES; A FRANGIBLE SECTIONAL ANNULUS ENGAGED BENEATH THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAID PERIPHERAL FLANGE ON SAID LOWER BARREL SECTION; AND BOLT MEANS CONNECTING SAID ANNULUS TO SAID FLANGE ON SAID UPPER SECTION, SAID ANNULUS BEING WEAKENED IN AN ANNULAR REGION THEREOF RADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID BOLT MEANS SO AS TO BE FRANGIBLE BY UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID UPPER BARREL SECTION RELATIVE TO SAID LOWER SECTION, ONE OF SAID SECTIONS BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INNER CIRCUMFERENTIAL RECESS IN ITS SAID MATING END, SAID RECESS HAVING AN UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY INCLINED SIDE WALL, AND THE OTHER OF SAID SECTIONS BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ANNULAR END PORTION HAVING AN UPWARDLY AND IN- 